Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

Orville Wright was born on August 19 , 1871 on 7 Hawthorn Street in Dayton, Ohio. He was the fourth child of Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Catharine Wright. Orville grew up in an atmosphere that was loving, and that nurtured all types of expression. The two libraries in the Wright house were especially encouraging of academic pursuits. Orville was the more mischievous of the two brothers, had a healthy childhood, and wasn't inclined to excessive study. He was also "a champion bicyclist and so the brothers went into the bicycle business, which gave full vent to their mechanical aptitude." His adventurous nature and drive to succeed combined with his brother Wilbur's research skills to achieve what is considered by many to be the greatest, most influential accomplishment of the 20th century. Their feat changed the way we live our lives, the way we see the world and "revolutionized both peace and war." Following Wilbur's death in 1912, Orville carried their legacy alone towards an exciting future. However, the hot new arena of aviation business proved volatile, and Orville sold the Wright company in 1916. He also stayed active in the public eye, promoting aeronautics, inventing, and the historic first flight that he made. April 29, 1936: Orville Wright was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. January 30 1948: Orville Wright died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 76, thus ending his 28 years as a member of the NACA. NASA was created from NACA 10 years after Orville's death. In his lifetime, the speed of the airplane had been increased from 0 mph to almost 1,000 mph.
Digital ID: ppmsc 06102 Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Bill Gonyo

104k

USS Wright (AZ-1) probably shown arriving on 31 October 1920 under tow at her conversion shipyard in
Hoboken, N.J., from her builder's yard at Hog Island, Pa. She grounded in attempting to enter her slip (possibly shown here) and was
floated and tied up temporarily to other vessels. She is a standard Hog Island Type B transport (EFC Design 1024) with many items in the
after part of the ship, including both goalpost masts, not installed. Photographed by Todd Shipyards Corp., owner of the Hoboken yard.
US National Archives RG-19-LCM. 80-G-1017222 or 19-N-7909 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the
US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.

Mike Green

185k

USS Wright (AZ-1) in drydock in January 1922 at New York Navy Yard after conversion to a
heavier-than-air aircraft tender. The sides of the kite balloon well are clearly visible below the balloon platform, which covers the entire
after portion of the ship. The 100-foot long well is covered with pieces of canvas. The ship's armament, which included two 5"/51 guns on the
stern under the balloon platform, has not yet been mounted.US National Archives, RG-19-N box 1, Photo # 19-N-7882 a US Navy Bureau
of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.

Mike Green

184k

USS Wright (AZ-1) in drydock in January 1922 at New York Navy Yard after conversion to a
heavier-than-air aircraft tender. The superstructure was modified and the forward well filled in to allow the ship to tend seaplanes as well
as kite balloons. Note the Williamsburg Bridge is in the background.US National Archives, RG-19-N box 1, Photo # 19-N-7883
a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.

USS Wright (AZ-1) with USS Sandpiper (AM-51)
alongside at the time of Fleet Problem I in the Panama area circa February 1923. The photo was probably taken from one of Wright's F5L seaplanes and shows another F5L
anchored in the distance. Wright no longer operated kite balloons but was still classified AZ-1 and retained her balloon platform and well aft.
Sandpiper was one of three minesweepers assigned in 1919 to duty supporting aviation; she and eight sisters were reclassified to small seaplane
tenders (AVP-1 class, q.v.) in 1936.US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 100449, courtesy Shipscribe.com.

USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, 15 April 1939 in Narragansett Bay.Photo Caption reads;"WAITS WAR GAMESTHE AIRCRAFT TENDER U.S.S. WRIGHT AT ANCHOR APRIL 15 IN NARRAGANSETT BAY OFF THE RHODE ISLAND COAST WHERE PLANES OF THE ARMY AND SHIPS AND PLANES OF THE NAVY AND THE COAST GUARD WILL COOPERATE NEXT WEEK.TO "DEFEND" THE INDUSTRIAL EAST FROM A THEORETICAL ATTACK." ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO4-15-39 11:30PES LKM JO.

USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, probably at Pearl Harbor in early 1942. She has received two additional 3"/50 antiaircraft guns
(for a total of four) forward plus some 20mm guns.US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-28172,
a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.

USS Wright (AV-1) off Alameda, Calif., 13 July 1943, after receiving more wartime alterations. These included the addition
of two 1.1" quad mounts, one fore and one aft, and a lattice radar mast.US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-48392 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com
and Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 6/13/43

Robert Hurst and Darryl Baker

Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 6/13/43

54k

USS Wright (AG-79)

319k

USS Wright (AG-79) crew photo, date unknown. Photo is believed to have been taken prior to name change to San Clemente (AG-79).

Ray Meiser contributed this photo. His father, Gaelen George Meiser, was a crew member in Wright at the time of the name change

USS San Clemente (AG-79)

50k

USS San Clemente (AG-79) moored to a buoy at Shanghai, China, March 1946.

Warren Walker, EM3/c USS San Clemente

111k

USS San Clemente (AG-79) at San Francisco in May 1946 during a brief stop there enroute the East
Coast for inactivation. She has acquired a new deckhouse, probably for use by the embarked staff, on the former seaplane maintenance area aft.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NH 77382, courtesy Shipscribe.com.